David R. Davidson
David R. Davidson was appointed the Interim Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus in January, 1993 before being appointed Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus on December 1, 1994. (The Dallas Morning News recently stated that the Dallas Symphony Chorus in recent years has become one of the hallmark musical organizations of Dallas.) David R. Davidson became Director of Music and Arts at Highland Park United Methodist Church on November 1, 2003. He also is an adjunct instructor of choral conducting and handbells at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Mr. Davidson served as Director of Music at Highland Park Presbyterian Church from 1985 – 2003. He was the visiting instructor of “Survey of Choral Literature” and “Choral Masterworks” at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. Mr. Davidson was chosen to be a Masterclass Conductor at the eighth International Choral Conductor’s Seminar in Brugge, Belgium, where he studied with Laszlo Heltay. He has also studied with Robert Shaw, Dr. Lara Hoggard, and Sir David Willcocks in addition to graduate work in choral conducting at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
David Davidson has prepared the Dallas Symphony Chorus for performances with Pinchas Zukerman, Eduardo Mata, Andrew Litton, Kazimierez Kord, Robert Shaw, Richard Hickox, Claus Peter Flor, John Nelson, Zubin Mehta, Gunther Herbig, Eve Queller and Kate Tamarkin. The Dallas Symphony Chorus released their first recording A Feast of Carols in December of 1994. Andrew Litton, Music Director of the Dallas Symphony, and David Davidson recorded a Christmas CD of the Dallas Symphony and Chorus for Delos International A DALLAS CHRISTMAS GALA as well as a 2004 live recording of the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 conducted by Claus Peter Flor. Mr. Davidson prepared The Dallas Symphony Chorus to perform with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in July 1996 with Zubin Mehta conducting six performances of the Mahler VIII Symphony. Mr. Davidson has prepared the DSC for four performances with the Opera Orchestra of New York. The New York Times praised the chorus in all four performances as well as their performance of Belshazzar’s Feast performed with the Dallas Symphony in Carnegie Hall. Davidson prepared the chorus for performances and recording the Mahler VIII Symphony under the direction of Andrew Litton in May of 2000. Preparation for other recordings include Porgy and Bess on Dorian, and the Moscow Cantata and 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky on the Delos label.
Davidson conducted the chorus and orchestras during the DSC’s 2003 European tour which included the Stefansdom in Vienna, Smetena Hall in Prague, Ottobeuren Abbey, and the Liszt Conservatoire in Budapest. These performances were before packed audiences and received great acclaim from reviewers in each of those cities. The Dallas Symphony Chorus conducted by David R. Davidson performed with acclaim as a headliner ensemble for the 2001 National American Choral Directors Association Convention in San Antonio. The DSC has also performed for the Texas Choral Directors Association. Mr. Davidson has conducted the Highland Park Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir in performances for the American Choral Directors National Convention in Louisville, the Texas Choral Directors Association Convention, the 1994 American Guild of Organists National Convention, and as the featured choir for the 1990 International Church Music Festival in Coventry, England.
Mr. Davidson made his conducting debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in December 1996 stepping in at the last minute to conduct the final four Christmas Celebration Concerts when the conductor became ill. He conducted with acclaim the 1997-2005 Dallas Symphony Christmas Celebration concerts that included a live TV telecast as well as making his debut on the 1999 DSO Classical Subscription Series conducting four performance of Messiah. When stepping in for Andrew Litton to conduct the Faure “Requiem” in May 2005, Scott Cantrell’s headline began with "….Davidson expertly steps in." Davidson made his Carnegie Hall debut in June 1998 conducting the Texas Festival Chorus and the Inter School Orchestra in a performance of the Mozart Requiem.
A nationally recognized church music and choral clinician throughout the United States, Mr. Davidson has chaired the Worship and Choral Music R & S Committee for ACDA as well as served as Vice-President of Church and Community Choirs for the Texas Choral Directors Association.
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Grant Williams (d. 2004)
Grant Williams was the vocal coach and consultant of the Dallas Symphony Chorus and is greatly missed, following his passing in early 2004. He enjoyed an extensive performing career in leading roles with the New York City Opera and the opera companies of Philadelphia, Detroit, Chautauqua, Central City, Mississippi, Miami, Fort Worth, Washington, D.C. and the World's Fair Festival of American Opera, Brussels, Belgium.
As vocal soloist he performed with the New York City Ballet, the Martha Graham Company, The Robert Shaw Chorale, the stage bands of Horace Heidt and Wayne King in theater, radio and television. His symphony orchestra engagements included the Cleveland, Detroit, Chautauqua, Little Orchestra Society of New York, Symphony of the Air (formerly NBC Symphony), Dallas, Norfolk, Des Moines, Philadelphia and Oklahoma City. He was the regular soloist at the Riverside Church of New York, recitalist at Wigmore Hall, London, England, and regular member of the Men's Glee Club of Radio City Music Hall. His recordings as soloist include the RCA Victor, MGM and Lyrichord.
Mr. Williams was founder and first president of the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra and founder and conductor of the Grant Williams Chorale which became the nucleus of the Detroit Symphony Chorus. He was Professor Emeritus of the College of Music, University of North Texas. The Juilliard School awarded him Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in voice as a scholarship student over seven years, and his dramatic study was under Uta Hagen of New York.
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